Originally Posted by Franc Rauscher
I apreciate the thought. I don't mind being "enlightened." However, iI would appreciate it if you young guys would show a little respect to those of us who worked in dark garages and back alleys with little more than a timing light and our ears as we tweaked carburator jets, point gaps and vacuum advance linkages to get performance. I was burning the rubber of my Kelly Springfields when you were just a thought in your daddys mind. Most of us back then got our mods out of a J.C. Whitney catalouge or our old indulging friend, down at the local machine shop.
Comparing my '69 Cuda to your SRT-6 is like comparing an F18 to a P-51 Mustang. Hardly fair yet both head turning performers who dominated their field.
No offense but your store bought, off the shelf, push and go fast pocket rocket doesn't earn you the right to put other fine vehicles, and the guys who built them up from common cars, down.
Chew on Vettes and Mustangs and other makes that want to challenge you but we are all proud of our crossfires. And we are proud of the history and heritage, that we were part of, that lead us to the decision to buy one. For the record, my SRT dream faded when it wasn't offered in a stick. But my decision to buy one of the finest examples of automotive evolution is one of which I am proud.
You can safely assume, this is true of just about everybody here.
roadster with a stick
and damm proud
I was simply responding to what I felt was a shot to the SRT crew. Just because I am half your age does not mean I cannot share my opinion on what I felt was low blow to the SRT/6. You also made reference to our ego's being hurt and I wanted to respond to that.
As far as being store bought and all that I can assure you all my mods on ALL my cars and motorcycles have been hands on with the exception of the ECU tune (i have even done a few write up's for this forum). I have had many fine cars and learned how to wrench when I turned 16 on a 1973 VW Superbeetle. I can recall having three buddys pick the car up from the rear bumper so I could slide the tranny out. Before my SRT I had a C5Z06 vette which I did a good amount of work on and before that I had an 04GTO that I put a cam in among other fun things.
Just because things were less convenient back in your day (screwing with points and whatnot) does not mean today's mechanics are any less of a mechanic. I never intended to disrespect you or your car but I can also tell you that I would never buy the xfire unless it had the AMG Blown motor in it. The regular 3.2 is a great motor but imho a car that looks as exotic as the xfire needs a motor to back it up otherwise you might as well rename it miata or mr2.
I often hear the argument that many have stayed away from the SRT cause it only comes with an auto....? It also has another 115 plus horse's and the auto that comes in this car can shift faster than most great stick shifters.
IMHO the difference between the SRT and regular crossfire is more than just power. If that's what you guys think that's great but I sure as well would hate to have a car look this good only to be beaten by cars like a camry, accord or godforbid a cobalt or neon.
To each his own...
SRT/6 Coupe
Autostick and faster